U.S. patent number 6,311,329 [Application Number 08/946,524] was granted by the patent office on 2001-10-30 for information providing apparatus and method, display controlling apparatus and method, information providing system, as well as transmission medium.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Tomoyuki Hanai, Toshiya Kaihoko, Yasutomo Nishina, Tomoko Terakado.
United States Patent |
6,311,329 |
Terakado , et al. |
October 30, 2001 |
Information providing apparatus and method, display controlling
apparatus and method, information providing system, as well as
transmission medium
Abstract
The invention provides an information providing apparatus and
method by which the amount of data to be transmitted when data of a
program table composed of characters and images or the like are to
be transmitted is reduced and it is made possible to cope with a
change in contents of data rapidly. Data of an electronic program
guide to be provided is hierarchized into data (A1 data) which may
possibly be changed such as the broadcasting date, the start time
and the end time, data (A2 data) which are not changed at all such
as a program name, and data (A3 data) composed of still pictures,
moving pictures, voice and so forth which have comparatively large
data amounts, and for each medium, data of a hierarchy suitable for
the medium is provided. Each A3 data is referred to by one or a
plurality of A2 data, and each A2 data is referred to by one or a
plurality of A1 data.
Inventors: |
Terakado; Tomoko (Kanagawa,
JP), Hanai; Tomoyuki (Kanagawa, JP),
Nishina; Yasutomo (Chiba, JP), Kaihoko; Toshiya
(Tokyo, JP) |
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
17492783 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/946,524 |
Filed: |
October 7, 1997 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
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Oct 14, 1996 [JP] |
|
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8-270916 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/44; 725/52;
348/E7.063; 348/E7.036; 348/E5.105; 348/E5.096 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
21/47 (20130101); H04N 21/6187 (20130101); H04N
21/26283 (20130101); H04N 21/4345 (20130101); H04N
21/262 (20130101); H04N 21/84 (20130101); H04N
7/0887 (20130101); H04N 7/165 (20130101); H04N
21/6547 (20130101); H04N 21/8543 (20130101); H04N
21/2625 (20130101); H04N 5/44 (20130101); H04N
5/44543 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
7/088 (20060101); H04N 7/16 (20060101); H04N
7/087 (20060101); H04N 5/44 (20060101); H04N
5/445 (20060101); H04N 005/50 () |
Field of
Search: |
;345/7,10,12,563,906
;725/37-61 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 669 761 |
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Aug 1995 |
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EP |
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WO 91 00670 |
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Jan 1991 |
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WO |
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WO 94 14283 |
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Jun 1994 |
|
WO |
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WO 95 15657 |
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Jun 1995 |
|
WO |
|
WO 95 28799 |
|
Oct 1995 |
|
WO |
|
WO 95 31069 |
|
Nov 1995 |
|
WO |
|
WO 97 02701 |
|
Jan 1997 |
|
WO |
|
Primary Examiner: Faile; Andrew
Assistant Examiner: Brown; Reuben M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Frommer Lawrence & Haug LLP
Frommer; William S. Chang; Dexter T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information providing apparatus, comprising:
hierarchizing means for hierarchizing electronic program guide
information to be provided into first information which designates
predetermined information and second information to be referred to
by the first information;
first providing means for providing at least one of the
hierarchized first information and second information; and
second providing means for providing layout information from within
the electronic program guide information which relates to a layout
when the electronic program guide information is to be displayed on
a screen, wherein
said hierarchizing means determines that information of the
electronic program guide information which is changed between
regular broadcasting and re-broadcasting as the first information
and determines that information of the electronic program guide
information which is not changed as the second information.
2. An information providing apparatus, comprising:
hierarchizing means for hierarchizing electronic program guide
information to be provided into first information which designates
predetermined information and second information to be referred to
by the first information;
first providing means for providing at least one of the
hierarchized first information and second information; and
second providing means for providing layout information from within
the electronic program guide information which relates to a layout
when the electronic program guide information is to be displayed on
a screen, wherein
said hierarchizing means determines that information of the
electronic program guide information which is changed between key
station broadcasting and local station broadcasting as the first
information and determines that information of the electronic
program guide information which is not changed as the second
information.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an information providing apparatus and
method, a display controlling apparatus and method, an information
providing system and a transmission medium, and more particularly
to an information providing apparatus and method, a display
controlling apparatus and method, an information providing system
and a transmission medium by which, when, for example, data of a
program table including characters and images are to be
transmitted, the amount of data to be transmitted is reduced and a
change of the program table can be performed rapidly.
Ordinarily, in order to get a program table of a television, a
television program column of a newspaper or a magazine is referred
to. Meanwhile, in recent years, it has been increased to practice
to provide a program table through the Internet. In this instance,
a program table is described in a describing language such as the
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). A user can observer the program
table using a predetermined browser. Further, it is also possible
to provide data of the program table by media such as broadcasting
radio waves or the like.
However, a program table provided through the Internet is described
in a describing language such as the HTML, and image data or the
like are sometimes included in the program table. Further, in such
a case that a program table includes, for example, a re-forecast
program, since data overlap, there is a problem in that a large
amount of data is involved and a considerable time is required for
transmission or reading in of the data.
It is another problem that, if the broadcasting date or the
broadcasting time of a predetermined program in a program table or
contents of a program are changed, much time is required since it
is required to change all portions relating to the program and
re-send data of the changed portions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information
providing apparatus and method, a display controlling apparatus and
method, an information providing system and a transmission medium
by which the amount of data to be transmitted when data of a
program table composed of characters and images or the like are to
be transmitted is reduced and it is made possible to cope with a
change in contents of data rapidly.
In order to attain the object described above, according to an
aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information
providing apparatus, comprising hierarchizing means for
hierarchizing electronic program guide information to be provided
into first information which designates predetermined information
and second information to be referred to by the first information,
first providing means for providing at least one of the
hierarchized first information and second information, and second
providing means for providing layout information from within the
electronic program guide information which relates to a layout when
the electronic program guide information is to be displayed on a
screen.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an information providing method, comprising the steps of
hierarchizing electronic program guide information to be provided
into first information which designates predetermined information
and second information to be referred to by the first information,
providing the hierarchized first information or second information,
and providing layout information from within the electronic program
guide information which relates to a layout when the electronic
program guide information is to be displayed on a screen.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a transmission medium which transmits a program, the
program including the steps of hierarchizing electronic program
guide information to be provided into first information which
designates predetermined information and second information to be
referred to by the first information, providing at least a one of
the hierarchized first information or second information, and
providing layout information which relates to a layout when the
electronic program guide information is to be displayed on a
screen.
In the information providing apparatus, the information providing
apparatus and the transmission medium, electronic program guide
information to be provided is hierarchized into first information
which designates predetermined information and second information
to be referred to by the first information. Then, at least one of
the first information and the second information, and layout
information from within the electronic program guide information
which relates to a layout when the electronic program guide
information is to be displayed on a screen, are provided.
Thus, with the information providing apparatus, the information
providing apparatus and the transmission medium, since electronic
program guide information is hierarchized into first information
and second information so that they may be provided together with
layout information, in such a case that re-forecasting is performed
or a program is changed, the amount of data to be provided can be
reduced.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a display controlling apparatus, comprising first
acquiring means for acquiring, from within electronic program guide
information hierarchized into first information which designates
predetermined information and second information to be referred to
by the first information, at least one of the first information and
the second information, second acquiring means for acquiring layout
information of the electronic program guide information regarding a
layout when the electronic program guide information is to be
displayed on a screen, and producing means for producing display
information to be used to display the electronic program guide
information from at least one of the first information and the
second information, and the layout information.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a display controlling method, comprising the steps of
acquiring, from within electronic program guide information
hierarchized into first information which designates predetermined
information and second information to be referred to by the first
information, at least one of the first information and the second
information, acquiring layout information regarding a layout of the
electronic program guide information when the EPG information is to
be displayed on a screen, and producing display information to be
used to display the electronic program guide information from at
least one of the first information and the second information, and
the layout information.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a transmission medium which transmits a program, the
program including the steps of acquiring, from within electronic
program guide information hierarchized into first information which
designates predetermined information and second information to be
referred to by the first information, at least one of the first
information and the second information, acquiring layout
information regarding a layout of the electronic program guide
information when the electronic program guide information is to be
displayed on a screen, and producing display information to be used
to display the electronic program guide information from at least
one of the first information and the second information, and the
layout information.
In the display controlling apparatus, the display controlling
method and the transmission medium, at least one of the first
information and the second information, and the layout information
are fetched. Then, display information to be used to display the
electronic program guide information is produced from at least one
of the first information and the second information, and the layout
information.
With the display controlling apparatus, the display controlling
method and the transmission medium, since display information to be
used to display the electronic program guide information is
produced based on at least one of first information and second
information of hierarchized electronic program guide information
and layout information, data can be acquired efficiently and
displayed rapidly. Accordingly, it is possible to rapidly cope with
a case wherein a change in broadcasting time or the like
occurs.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an information providing apparatus, comprising
hierarchizing means for hierarchizing electronic program guide
information to be provided into first information which designates
predetermined information and second information to be referred to
by the first information, first providing means for providing at
least one of the hierarchized first information or second
information, second providing means for providing layout
information from within the electronic program guide information
which relates to a layout when the electronic program guide
information is to be displayed on a screen, first acquiring means
for acquiring at least one of the first information and the second
information, second acquiring means for acquiring layout
information of the electronic program guide information regarding a
layout when the electronic program guide information is to be
displayed on a screen, and producing means for producing display
information to be used to display the electronic program guide
information from at least one of the first information and the
second information, and the layout information.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an information providing method, comprising the steps
of hierarchizing electronic program guide information to be
provided into first information which designates predetermined
information and second information to be referred to by the first
information, providing at least one of the hierarchized first
information and second information, providing layout information
from within the electronic program guide information which relates
to a layout when the electronic program guide information is to be
displayed on a screen, acquiring at least one of the first
information and the second information, acquiring layout
information of the electronic program guide information regarding a
layout when the electronic program guide information is to be
displayed on a screen, and producing display information to be used
to display the electronic program guide information from at least
one of the first information and the second information, and the
layout information.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a transmission medium which transmits a program, the
program including the steps of hierarchizing electronic program
guide information to be provided into first information which
designates predetermined information and second information to be
referred to by the first information, providing at least one of the
hierarchized first information and second information, providing
layout information from within the electronic program guide
information which relates to a layout when the electronic program
guide information is to be displayed on a screen, acquiring at
least one of the first information and the second information,
acquiring layout information of the electronic program guide
information regarding a layout when the electronic program guide
information is to be displayed on a screen, and producing display
information to be used to display the electronic program guide
information from at least one of the first information and the
second information, and the layout information.
In the information providing system, the information providing
method and the transmission medium, electronic program guide
information is hierarchized into first information and second
information. At least one of the first information and the second
information, and layout information from within the electronic
program guide information which is used when the electronic program
guide information is to be displayed on a screen, are provided.
Display information to be used to display the electronic program
guide information is produced from at least one of the first
information and the second information, and the layout
information.
With the information providing system, the information providing
method and the transmission medium, since electronic program guide
information is hierarchized into first information and second
information and provided together with layout information and
display information to be used to display the electronic program
guide information is produced based on at least one of the first
information and the second information, and the layout information,
the amount of data to be provided can be reduced in such a case
wherein a change in broadcasting time or the like occurs.
Accordingly, it is possible to rapidly cope with a case wherein a
change in broadcasting time or the like occurs.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description and
the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which like parts or elements are denoted by like
reference characters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view showing an AV system to which the present
invention is applied;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary detailed
construction of a CD-ROM drive shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a procedure of
converting data of a program table and data of a screen layout into
statements of an EPG (electronic program guide) processing language
and displaying an EPG;
FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrammatic views illustrating an exemplary
detailed construction of A data for an electronic program table
which is used in the AV system of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrammatic views illustrating an exemplary
construction of B data for displaying an electronic program table
which is used in the AV system of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrammatic views illustrating an exemplary
construction of B data for displaying a program detail information
screen which is used in the AV system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an example of program
detail information used in the AV system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an exemplary
construction of C data corresponding to a screen layout shown in
FIG. 5C;
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing an exemplary construction of
C data corresponding to a screen layout shown in FIG. 6C;
FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a reference relationship
among A data, B data, C data and data of a screen layout used in
the AV system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a relationship between
types of information to be provided through media and the media in
the AV system of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating bands of digital
television signals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary construction
of an AV (audio visual) system to which an information providing
system to which the present invention is applied is incorporated.
It is to be noted that, in the present specification, the term
"system" represents an entire apparatus formed from a plurality of
function elements.
The AV system shown includes a CD-ROM (compact disc read only
memory) drive 1 constructed so as to read, for example, program
information and data regarding a layout of a program table recorded
on an electronic program guide CD-ROM 6 on which an electronic
program guide which is published every week is recorded.
The CD-ROM drive 1 supplies data read out from a CD-ROM 6 or data
to be used to display a program table superposed on a television
signal of a predetermined channel supplied from an antenna not
shown on a screen to a television receiver 5. A mouse 2 is manually
operated when a user tries to select a channel or effect program
reservation while observing a program table displayed on the
television receiver 5.
Data regarding a program table is composed of, as hereinafter
described, original data (hereinafter referred to as A data),
intermediate data (hereinafter referred to as B data), display data
(hereinafter referred to as C data) and screen layout data
corresponding to each display screen.
A PDA (personal digital assistants) unit 4 is constructed so as to
read out program table data from an electronic program guide CD-ROM
6, display the program table on a screen of the PDA and select a
channel while the program table is observed. The PDA unit 4 is
constructed so as to transmit contents of an operation when program
reservation is to be performed to the television receiver 5 by
infrared rays or the like. The television receiver 5 is constructed
so as to display an ordinary broadcasting program or display a
screen of a program table based on data supplied from the CD-ROM
drive 1 or the PDA unit 4.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary internal construction of the CD-ROM drive
1 shown in FIG. 1. The CD-ROM drive 1 includes a CD-ROM driving
section 11 constructed so as to reproduce a CD-ROM 6 and output
data regarding program information or screen layout data.
A microcomputer 15 includes a memory 18, a browser control section
19, a data converting section 20, a graphic engine 17, a user
interface control section 21, a VRAM (video RAM) 16 and so forth.
The microcomputer 15 receives data outputted from the CD-ROM
driving section 11, produces data for displaying a screen of a
program table or the like and outputs the produced data. The memory
18 stores an application program and suitably stores other data
necessary for processing.
The data converting section 20 converts, based on data regarding
program information and screen layout data supplied thereto from
the CD-ROM driving section 11, the data into statements of a
describing language (EPG processing language) such as the HTML. The
browser control section 19 produces display data of an EPG screen
based on the EPG processing language such as the HTML obtained by
the conversion by the data converting section 20 and writes the
display data into the VRAM 16. The user interface control section
21 accepts various instructions from a user and outputs
corresponding signals to pertaining components.
The graphic engine 17 reads out or writes image data or font data
from or into the VRAM 16 at a high speed and performs high speed
picture drawing processing of graphic data. A TEL (telephone)
module 14 is formed from a modem or the like and constructed so as
to convert an analog signal supplied through a telephone line into
digital data and supply the digital data to the microcomputer 15 or
convert digital data supplied from the microcomputer 15 into analog
data and send out the analog data through the telephone line.
FIG. 3 illustrates a procedure wherein inputted information and
data of a screen layout for displaying the inputted information are
produced and provided to a user and an EPG (Electronic Program
Guide) corresponding to the provided data is produced finally.
First, program information is inputted and A data (original data)
composed of A1 data, A2 data and A3 data are produced by a data
editor 31. Then, a layout of a screen for displaying a program
table or detailed information of a program is inputted using a
layout editor 32 to produce screen layout data. Here, while it is
described that program information and data of a screen layout for
displaying the program information are inputted, other information
may naturally be inputted.
For example, in such a case that a program having a program name of
"The Sunflower" is to be broadcast at 12 o'clock and re-broadcast
at 17 o'clock, the data editor 31 inputs program information of
"The Sunflower", produces two A1 data for regular broadcasting and
for re-broadcasting, and produces A2 data to be referred to
commonly by the two A1 data. Also A3 data formed from more detailed
data to be referred to by the A2 data is produced.
Each of the A1 data is composed of data in units of a program whose
broadcasting date, broadcasting time or the like may possibly be
changed. The A2 data is composed of fixed information which may not
possibly be changed such as a program name and a sub title, as well
as serial numbers to be used to refer to individual data in the A3
data such as performers, program detail information, still
pictures, voice, and moving pictures. Further, the A3 data is
substantial data of still pictures, voice, moving pictures and so
forth, and the data amount can be adjusted by changing the
combination in accordance with a medium by which those data are to
be provided. The A3 data is referred to by the A2 data.
In particular, for example, as seen in FIG. 4A, the A1 data has
different data types for regular broadcasting (key station
broadcasting), for re-broadcasting (local station broadcasting) and
so forth, and is composed of "A1 DATA TAG" representing that the
data is A1 data, "A1 DATA SERIAL NO." representative of a serial
number of the A1 data, "A2 DATA SERIAL NO." for designating A2 data
to be referred to, data representative of a "BROADCASTING DATE", a
"START TIME", an "END TIME", a "BROADCASTING STATION", a "PROGRAM
CATEGORY" and a "BROADCASTING TYPE" of a corresponding program.
Here, the "PROGRAM CATEGORY" represents a type of a program such
as, for example, a news, an entertainment or a movie, and the
"BROADCASTING TYPE" represents, for example, stereo, bilingual,
clear vision or the like.
Meanwhile, the A2 data is composed of, in this instance, as seen in
FIG. 4B, "A2 DATA TAG" representing that the data is A2 data, "A2
DATA SERIAL NO.", "PRO-GRAM NAME" and "SUB TITLE", data
representative of "PERFORMER NO. [0]", . . . , "PERFORMER NO. [N]"
for designating A3 data to be referred to, "PROGRAM DETAIL
INFORMATION NO.", "STILL PICTURE NO.", "VOICE NO." and "MOVING
PICTURE NO.".
Where the A3 data is data regarding a performer, the A3 data is
composed of "A3 DATA TAG" representing that the data is A3 data,
"PERFORMER NO.", "PERFORMER NAME" and "PERFORMER INFORMATION".
Where the A3 data is data of program detail information, the A3
data is composed of "A3 DATA TAG", "PROGRAM DETAIL INFORMATION NO."
and "PROGRAM DETAIL INFORMATION". Meanwhile, where the A3 data is
data of a still picture, the A3 data is composed of "A3 DATA TAG",
"STILL PICTURE NO." and data of "STILL PICTURE". Where the A3 data
is voice data, it is composed of "A3 DATA TAG", "VOICE NO." and
"DATA OF VOICE". On the other hand, where the A3 data is data of a
moving picture, it is composed of "A3 DATA TAG", "MOVING PICTURE
NO." and "DATA OF A MOVING PICTURE".
It is to be noted that the A3 data includes, in addition to the
data described above, the name of a director or a producing person
of a play book, producer information, CM information (voice, a
still picture or moving pictures), and so forth.
The A data mentioned above (at least one of the A1 to A3 data) is
provided to a user via a medium such as a telephone line 42, a
CD-ROM 43, a DVD 44 or the like. Meanwhile, the data of a screen
layout is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM 43 or a
DVD 44 on which an electronic program guide is recorded and is
provided to a user. Naturally, while it can be provided by a
transmission medium such as broadcasting radio waves (antenna 41)
or the telephone line 42, in order to raise the speed upon
displaying, the former method is preferable.
A user has such an AV system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and A data
and data of a screen layout provided through a medium mentioned
above are inputted via the antenna 41, telephone line 42, CD-ROM
driving section 11 or the like, fetched by an A data producing
section 51 of the data converting section 20 of the microcomputer
15 and stored into the memory 18. A1 data, A2 data and A3 data
stored in the memory 18 are read out by a B data processing section
52 of the data converting section 20, and necessary items are
extracted from the data in response to the layout of the display
screen to produce B data.
The B data is composed of B1 data and B2 data as seen in FIG. 5.
The constructions and the data contents of the B1 data and B2 data
are different depending upon the screen layout. For example, in the
case of a program table screen for displaying programs of a
predetermined broadcasting date, program frames for 24 hours are
taken by the B1 data as seen in FIG. 5A.
In particular, the B1 data is composed of "B1 DATA TAG"
representing that the data is B1 data, "B1 DATA SERIAL NO."
representing a serial number of the B1 data, "B2 DATA SERIAL NO."
representing a serial number of the B2 data corresponding to
(referring to) the B1 data, "BROADCASTING DATE", "BROADCASTING
STATION", program frames "0:00 PROGRAM FRAME", "0:10 PROGRAM
FRAME", . . . , "23:50 PROGRAM FRAME" set for individual
predetermined times, and so forth.
Meanwhile, the B2 data is composed of "B2 DATA TAG" representing
that the data is B2 data, "B2 DATA SERIAL NO." representing a
serial number of the B2 data and "B2 DATA CAPACITY" representative
of the capacity of the B2 data, as well as "STACK #1" to "STACK #N"
in which serial NO. of A1 data to be referred to are described.
When a program table screen of such a screen layout as shown in
FIG. 5C is to be displayed, for example, in the stacks #1 to #N,
the serial No. of the A1data corresponding to individual times of
the program table are placed in a sorted state.
On the other hand, when such a program detail information screen
for individual categories as shown in FIG. 6C is to be displayed,
the B data processing section 52 of the data converting section 20
retrieves programs to be displayed as program detail information
for the individual categories, sorts the serial NO. of the A1 data
corresponding to a predetermined category and places them into the
individual stacks of the B2 data. The format of the B2 data is
similar, as seen in FIG. 6B, to that of the program table screen
shown in FIG. 5B. Meanwhile, for the B1 data, a number of frames of
program detail information equal to the number of display programs
are taken, and the stack NO. of B2 data to be referred is placed in
a corresponding one of the frames of program detail
information.
In particular, the B1 data is composed of, as seen in FIG. 6A, "B1
DATA TAG" representing that the data is B1 data, "B1 DATA SERIAL
NO." representing a serial number of the B1 data, "B2 DATA SERIAL
NO." representing a serial number of the B2 data corresponding to
(referring to) the B1 data, "CATEGORY", "PAGE" and "PROGRAM DETAIL
INFORMATION #1", . . . "PROGRAM DETAIL INFORMATION #6". Here, while
the number of frames of program detail information is 6 in
conformity with the layout of the program detail information
screen, it may be varied in accordance with the layout.
Even if the screen layout data is common, display contents are
varied. For example, even if the screen layout shown in FIG. 6C is
used, if the program category or the page changes, then the display
contents change.
It is to be noted that the program detail information is different
for the individual categories of programs, for example, as shown in
FIG. 7. For example, if the program category is "MOVIE", the
program detail information may be "COMMENTARY", "OUTLINE",
"SHOOTING LOCATION INFORMATION", "RELATING INFORMATION (VIDEO)",
"PREVIEW" and so forth.
For example, the program detail information for each performer can
be displayed by a similar method. In this instance, for example, by
the user manually operating the mouse 2 to move a cursor on a GUI
displayed on the television receiver 5 to a predetermined position,
sorting of program detail information for each performer is
instructed. This instruction is transmitted as a signal of a cursor
position from the user interface control section 21 to the data
converting section 20. In response to the instruction, the data
converting section 20 sorts the program detail information for each
performer in a similar manner as in the case described above and
places it into a stack of the B2 data.
Using the B1 data and B2 data produced in this manner and the
screen layout data supplied through a CD-ROM 6 (in FIG. 3, a CD-ROM
43) or the like and acquired by the screen layout data producing
section 53 of the data converting section 20, a C data processing
section 54 of the data converting section 20 produces C data
(display data) which is used as original data when it is to be
converted into statements of an EPG processing language. Further,
in order to cope with a case wherein data of a screen layout is not
supplied from a CD-ROM 6 or the like, it is also possible to record
data of a standard screen layout in advance in the memory 18 of the
microcomputer 15. The C data refers to the A1 data, A2 data and A3
data via the B1 data and B2 data.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate examples of the C data. FIG. 8 illustrates
C data corresponding to the screen layout of FIG. 5C. Similarly,
FIG. 9 illustrates C data corresponding to the screen layout of
FIG. 6C.
The C data produced in this manner undergoes display conversion
processing by a display conversion processing section 61 of the
data converting, section 20, and an EPG display is provided on a
screen of the television receiver 5 or the like under the control
of the browser control section 19. In this instance, an EPG
corresponding to a medium by which program information is to be
provided to the user is produced and displayed. For example, when
provision of program information is received through a CD-ROM, an
EPG including a still picture in addition to characters is
displayed. On the other hand, when provision of program information
superposed on a television signal by broadcasting radio waves is
received, an EPG composed only of simple character information is
displayed.
FIG. 10 illustrates a manner in which C data are produced from A
data, B data and data of a screen layout in such a manner as
described above. Each arrow mark indicates a direction in which
data is referred to. In particular, the A3 data is referred to by
the A2 data, and the A2 data is referred to by the A1 data. The A1
data is referred by the B2 data, and the B2 data is referred to by
the B1 data. The B1 data and the data of a screen layout are
referred to by the C data. Accordingly, the C data can refer to the
A3 data via the B1 data, B2 data, A1 data and A2 data.
FIG. 11 illustrates a relationship between the data amount of the A
data and the transmission method. As seen in FIG. 11, it is
possible to provide, for example, only the A1 data and the A2 data
in a superposed relationship with a vertical blanking period (VBI)
of a television signal to the user. Information which additionally
includes CM information, performer information, program detail
information and other character information which form the A3 data
can be provided by a floppy disc (FD) or a telephone line.
Information which additionally includes a still picture of a CM, a
still picture of a performer, a still picture of a program and
other still pictures can be recorded onto and provided as a CD-ROM.
Further, information which additionally includes data of moving
pictures and voice of a CM, moving pictures and voice of a program
and so forth can be provided by a DVD or a like. In this manner,
data can be used individually or in combination.
Since the data amount varies depending upon the combination of the
different types of information mentioned above, a different EPG can
be produced by changing the combination of media. For example, data
to be provided are different depending upon what combination of a
VBI of a television signal, a telephone line, a floppy disc, a
CD-ROM and a DVD the media by which data are to be provided are.
Accordingly, also an EPG to be displayed is different depending
upon data to be provided.
Also by the PDA unit 4, an EPG is produced in a basically similar
manner as described above and displayed on a screen of an LCD or
the like.
The user can manually operate the mouse 2 or the like to select a
desired program or effect program reservation based on a program
table and program detail information displayed on the screen of the
television receiver 5 in such a manner as described above.
Similarly, the user can manually operate a predetermined operation
section to select a desired program or effect recording reservation
based on a program table and program detail information displayed
on the screen of the PDA unit 4.
Further, various media can be used individually or in combination.
While, for example, EPG displaying is performed using only program
information transmitted thereto in a superposed relationship with a
VBI of a television signal or EPG displaying is normally performed
using program information of a CD-ROM, when the broadcasting time
or the like is changed because of re-broadcasting of a program or a
delay of a program or when a broadcast is provided from a key
station to a local station and the broadcasting station, the
broadcasting day, the broadcasting time, a sponsor or the like is
changed, it is also possible to transmit only information of the
changed program (change information) (for example, the A1 data for
re-broadcasting or local station broadcasting illustrated in FIG.
4A) in a superposed relationship with a VBI of a television signal
or through a telephone line.
It is to be noted that, when the A1 data is changed from data
transmitted formerly (this similarly applies to the other A2 data,
A3 data or B data, C data), it is possible to, for example, provide
an identification bit for recognition that the data is change data
in advance in the A1 data serial NO. and change this identification
bit. On the reception side, the A1 data of the corresponding A1
data serial NO. is updated with reference to the identification
bit.
In addition, it is also possible to write a production day, a
transmission day and so forth of the A1 data and update the A1 data
when latest data are received with reference to the date or to
compare contents of received data with contents of data stored at
present and update, when the contents exhibit a variation, the data
of the old contents with the data of the newly received
contents.
In the embodiment described above, actual data are stored one by
one as A1 to A3 data. Accordingly, since a plurality of data to be
used commonly by a plurality of screens are not provided in an
overlapping relationship with each other, much information can be
stored by a comparatively small capacity. Further, since data are
stored in the form of cards individually for a plurality of kinds
(in this instance, the data are stored in a hierarchized state as
A1 data, A2 data and A3 data), necessary information can be
transmitted by a necessary amount.
Further, since an EPG screen conforming to information transmitted
thereto can be produced, even if a plurality of media are used so
that those may exist simultaneously or are used individually in
order to provide data of program detail information of a program
table to a user, an EPG screen conforming to the provided data can
be produced.
By the way, digital television broadcasting which makes use of a
satellite or a CATV system is spreading recently. As digital
television signals, an SDTV (Standard Definition TV) having a
resolution of 720.times.480 pixels which is common to those of
current ground wave broadcasting, an EDTV (Extended Definition TV)
having another resolution of 720 or 960.times.480 pixels, an HDTV
(High Definition TV) of 1,920.times.1,080 pixels and so forth are
available. For example, as indicated by a system A of FIG. 12, a
system wherein four SDTV signals are distributed by a single
carrier is available. Thus, it is possible to use, as shown by
another system B of FIG. 12, one band from among the bands of the
four SDTV signals is used for an EPG while the three remaining
bands are allocated to one HDTV signal. Or, as indicated by a
further system C or a still further system D, an EPG may be
allocated to one band while three SDTV signals or two EDTV signals
are allocated to the three remaining bands.
In this manner, where a digital television signal is used, since
the band is broad, all of A1 data to A3 data and screen layout data
can be transmitted to a user by radio or wire communication.
Further, while, in the embodiment described above, it is described
that an electronic program guide is provided by a medium and
displayed, the present invention is not limited to the specific
embodiment, and by changing the information to be provided, the
present invention can be applied, for example, also to catalog
shopping, a karaoke book, a picture book, a travel magazine and so
forth and information of a photograph, a picture, sound, moving
pictures and so forth can be provided in addition to character
information so that it may be displayed on a screen of a television
receiver or a display unit so as to be utilized.
It is to be noted that, for a transmission medium for transmitting
a program for execution of such processing as described above to a
user, in addition to recording media such as a magnetic disc, a
CD-ROM and a solid state memory, a communication medium such as a
network or a satellite can be utilized.
Having now fully described the invention, it will be apparent to
one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and
modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as set forth herein.
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